Asylum Seekers: Removals

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In relation to the forced removal of Iraqi Kurds to Iraq by a flight leaving the United Kingdom on 20 November at 00.05 (a) how many people were served with removal directions, for removal on that flight; (b) on what date such removal directions were issued; and (c) how many people were removed on that flight.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: (a) Thirty-six individuals were served with removal directions for enforced removal to Iraq on 20 November 2005.
	(b) The removal directions were served between 17–19 November.
	(c) Fifteen Iraqi nationals were removed on the flight.

Asylum Seekers: Removals

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are able to ascertain the fate of failed asylum seekers removed to Iraq, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and whether they will seek agreements with these countries, and monitoring arrangements to accompany them, similar to those negotiated with Jordan, Algeria and Libya.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: When assessing an individual asylum claim we will take account of country information relevant to that claim. This would include information, if available, on the treatment of returned failed asylum seekers. Where we refuse a claim and the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal dismisses any appeal we therefore consider that it is safe for that individual to return. This is one of the reasons why the Home Office does not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. Another reason is that in some countries such monitoring could of itself place returnees at risk when otherwise they would not be. In addition, we cannot require such individuals to keep in touch with us. Therefore, we would consider some form of systematic monitoring only if particular circumstances made it appropriate for a given country. However, where specific allegations are made that any returnee, to any country, has experienced ill-treatment on return from the UK, these are followed up through the FCO and the relevant British Embassy as a matter of urgency.
	The memoranda of understanding we have recently negotiated with Jordan and Libya do not relate to the removal of individuals who have no entitlement to remain in the UK, but to cases where we wish to deport the person on the grounds that their deportation from the UK would be conducive to the public good. The number of deportations, compared with the total number of removals, is small, and the number where we may feel it necessary to seek assurances is likely to be very small indeed. The purpose of the assurances in those particular cases is to enable the UK to satisfy itself that removal will be consistent with our international obligations.

Avian Quarantine

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to implement any of the recommendations of the Dimmock report, reviewing avian quarantine; and, if so, when.

Lord Bach: My department will study the report's findings carefully, including the associated costs and benefits of each of the findings. The work will be taken forward in partnership with the EU and stakeholders and the appropriate action will be taken as quickly as possible.

Avian Quarantine

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 13 December (WA 146) stating that current instructions do not require that every bird that dies is sent for examination for notifiable disease, whether this Answer replaces the Answer given in the House of Commons on 12 December by the Minister for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare, Mr Ben Bradshaw (Official Report, House of Commons, 1586W) stating that all birds which die in quarantine must be submitted to the Veterinary Laboratory Agency for investigation for Newcastle Disease and avian influenza; and, if so, what are the reasons for this change in policy.

Lord Bach: There has not been a change in policy. Instructions to the State Veterinary Service (SVS) state that all birds which die in quarantine must be sent to the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA) for investigation for notifiable disease. However the Answer given in the House of Commons on 12 December did not detail the exceptions to this rule. In the cases where there is high mortality in a large consignment of small birds, sampling may be limited to a representative number.

British Passports

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many batches of British passports are registered as stolen or mislaid by the Home Office; where such batches were stolen or mislaid worldwide; and what is the total number of passports recorded as missing.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A total of 15 passports have been reported lost in three separate incidents from UK passport offices in 2000 and none since then. In each case a full and thorough investigation was undertaken by UK Passport Service security personnel. A police investigation was also undertaken into a single incident in Glasgow in 2000 when 13 passports could not be accounted for. Details of these passports have been passed to the Immigration Service. Since 2000 there have been no reported losses of passports from British posts overseas. From 1 April 2005 until 30 September 2005, Immigration and Nationality Directorate's General Group made 261,011 decisions in leave to remain applications. In this same period there were 103 lost passport letters issued for passports reported lost or mislaid (10 of which related to British passports) and 275 passports were mislaid by the Royal Mail (figures on how many of these were British are not kept at present). These figures represent 0.04 per cent. and 0.10 per cent. respectively of the total number of decisions made in this period.

Child Murder

Lord Northbourne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children have been killed by (a) one of their parents or (b) a carer who is not a parent, in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The available published data relate to homicides recorded according to information available as at 22 October 2004, where the victim was under 16 years and the suspect was a parent of the victim. They show that the police in England and Wales recorded 48 such homicides in 1999–2000, 80 in 2000–01, 41 in 2001–02, 53 in 2001–02 and 30 in 2003–04. These data were published in January 2005 in the annual publication Crime in England and Wales 2003/04: Supplementary Volume: Homicide and Gun Crime. The 2004–05 volume will be published on 26 January 2006. Corresponding figures for homicides where the suspect is the victim's carer are not collected in this form.

Colombia: Mine Clearance

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the requests by the UNDP and UNICEF for effective verification of the de-mining of specific areas in Colombia; and whether they support humanitarian attempts to achieve the de-mining of additional areas in that country.

Baroness Amos: The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UNICEF Portfolio of Mine Action 2005, reports mines and unexploded ordnance affecting 542 of the country's 1,119 municipalities, across 30 of its 32 departments. The portfolio also reports that the Colombian Government, civil society organisations and international organisations including UNICEF, the UNDP and UNMAS are working together through the National MINE Action Plan (2002–06).
	The UK Government support the Mine Action Strategy advocated in the Portfolio of Mine Action 2005. This includes an objective by 2006 of promoting, co-ordinating and monitoring the implementation of the National Mine Action Plan at a national level, with an emphasis on six prioritised provinces. This is undertaken through the national observatory for mine action and would be expected to include effective verification of de-mining in these provinces. The Colombian Government's four-year national development plan features mine action as an important government priority, and as signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty they have put in place various initiatives to address the problem. Wherever it is possible to increase clearance efforts this should be commended. However, the decision on where to prioritise mine action is for the national authority.
	DfID has provided £1 million this financial year to UNICEF for mine risk education globally and under this arrangement UNICEF has been assisting Colombia with the development of a plan for mine risk education as well as providing a consultant to assist the national observatory for mine action.

Cycling on Pavements

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 22 November (WA 201) stating that data on the issue and payment of fixed penalty notices in respect of cycling on pavements are not collected centrally, how they assess whether the policy is effective.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The overall effectiveness of policing is measured through the baseline assessments carried out by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and through statutory performance indicators. We would expect these to identify any significant weaknesses or areas of local concern.

Department for Work and Pensions: PSA Targets

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the public service agreement for the Department for Work and Pensions covering the period 2005–08 has no quantified target for the reduction of fraud and error.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The quantified target for the PSA target on reducing fraud and error in benefits is published in the SR2004 Public Service Agreement technical note. This states that,
	"the target will be met if overpayments from fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance are reduced by 15 per cent. by 2010 measured against a new baseline set in 2005–06; and in working age Housing Benefit by 25 per cent. by 2008 measured against the 2002–03 baseline."

Department for Work and Pensions: PSA Targets

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 10 February (WA 138), why the Public Service Agreement Objective V for the Department for Work and Pensions for the period 2005–08 covers only Income Support, Job Seeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit in view of the fact that fraud and error in relation to those benefits amount to less than half of the estimated amount lost by the department through fraud and error.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Measuring fraud and error is complex and expensive and so the department concentrates on benefits which research has demonstrated are most at risk from fraud and error, specifically Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. We keep the need for further measurement under constant review.
	To supplement this information, we do conduct one-off review of other benefits; a benefit review of DLA was run in 2004 and results published in July 2005. This enabled us to update the information from the previous benefit review of DLA, in 1996, which is now out of date and no longer considered reliable. We are committed to continuing these reviews and will be carrying out a series of reviews on other benefits which have a high level of expenditure and potential risk of loss through a number of different causes over the next few years. We envisage that this will enable us to publish a more accurate figure for loss through fraud and error.

English Partnerships: Affordable Housing

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will arrange for the proportion of affordable housing on the 40 hospital sites now to be developed by English Partnerships in Greater London and the south-east to be increased from 50 per cent. to 100 per cent.

Baroness Andrews: The portfolio of hospital sites acquired by English Partnerships from the Department of Health on 6 April 2005 will be used to provide a range of housing types and tenures to help deliver mixed and sustainable communities. The final proportion of homes on a particular site that are affordable will be influenced by a range of factors including local market conditions and the policies of the local planning authority. Overall, English Partnerships estimates that about 50 per cent. of the homes built on the hospital sites portfolio nationally will be affordable but this is likely to be higher on some sites when justified by local circumstances.

EU: Fundamental Rights Agency

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Triesman on 6 July (WA 109), what is the justification for the use of Articles 30, 31 and 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union as the legal basis for a proposal for a Council decision empowering the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights to pursue activities referred to in these articles.

Lord Triesman: The proposal for a Council decision empowering the Fundamental Rights Agency to pursue its activities in areas referred to in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union is still under discussion in the Council and its legal basis has not yet been agreed. Recital 6 of the current proposal drafted by the European Commission argues as follows:
	"The establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice with reference to actions under Title VI of the Treaty require that the fundamental rights of individuals should be safeguarded. Articles 30, 31 and 34(2)(c) of the Treaty are accordingly the appropriate legal basis for this proposal".

EU: Sugar Regime

Lord Bowness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following agreement to the financial perspective for 2007–13, under which budget heading the compensation payable to African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar producers will be paid; and whether sufficient money has been allocated to cover the estimated cost of the compensation scheme of €500 million per annum.

Baroness Amos: The European Commission (EC) will not be providing compensation to the countries affected by the EU's reform of its sugar regime but rather transitional assistance to help them adjust to the new trading conditions they will face, most notably a reduction of 36 per cent. in the guaranteed price for their exports of sugar under the sugar protocol.
	The source of funding and allocation has not yet been determined. The EC has said that the transitional assistance will be given according to need and on the basis of adaptation strategies that the countries themselves are producing.
	The new financial framework agreed in December was a major step forward as it set the overall EC budget limit, including individual heading ceilings. The Austrian presidency will now take forward the negotiations over detailed allocations within each budget heading, including the financial costs of sugar transitional assistance to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producers.
	It is most unlikely that the allocation level will be as much as £500 million a year. The EC itself has mentioned a working assumption of £190 million, while the information made available by ACP countries to date suggests a figure of nearer £250 million may be required. Completion of the remaining country strategies will provide a clearer picture of resource needs.

Gaelic Athletic Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 November (WA 36) concerning the funding of Gaelic athletic activity, whether the business case for each project's funding will be placed in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: Yes. However, funding allocated for Gaelic athletic activity which was for small projects and were subject to assessment against grant criteria rather than via a business case evaluation process will be exempted.

High Hedges

Baroness Gardner of Parkes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applications to reduce high hedges have been brought; how many applications have been decided; and how many appeals against these decisions have been made.

Baroness Andrews: Information is not collected centrally on the number of complaints about high hedges brought under Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 nor on how many of these complaints have been determined by local authorities, and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. As at 23 December, the planning inspectorate had received 78 appeals against local authority decisions in respect of high hedge complaints.

High Hedges

Baroness Gardner of Parkes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How compliance under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 can be enforced over a period of time where the height of hedges is so great that phased reductions will be required; and
	Where a high hedge cannot be cut at once, whether it is for the local authority or the hedge owner to decide how, and over what period of time, the work should be carried out.

Baroness Andrews: Where the height of a hedge should be reduced in a series of cuttings, a local authority is required under the terms of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 to specify over what period of time the work should be completed, and the final height reached. If they wish, a local authority may specify in a remedial notice how such works might be phased. A sample form of words is included in the appendix to the guidance document High Hedges Complaints: Prevention and Cure. Alternatively, a local authority might encourage the hedge owner to discuss and agree with them a suitable timetable for the phasing of the works.
	Under the 2003 Act, if an owner fails to reduce a hedge to its final cutting height within the overall period set by a local authority, they commit an offence and could face prosecution and/or the authority could carry out the necessary works themselves and reclaim the costs from the hedge owner. No offence is committed if the hedge owner fails to carry out the cutting according to the phases set out in a remedial notice or agreed separately with a local authority. There is no means, therefore, of enforcing the timing of individual stages of phased reduction. It is, however, open to a local authority to send warning letters if a stage has passed without action being taken.

Identity Cards: Biometrics

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether people with nystagmus and other sight conditions that may cause difficulties in providing a retinal scan will be exempt from providing this form of biometric data in order to enrol in the national identity cards scheme.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is currently intended that the identity card scheme will record 13 biometrics—10 fingerprints, two irises and a facial image. There are no plans to record retinal images. The identity cards scheme intends to put a number of measures in place to facilitate individuals with sight conditions, such as nystagmus, to record their iris biometrics successfully. For example, the recording process will be conducted by a trained operator who will be able to assist the individual during the scan. Additionally, the ability of biometric recording equipment offered by potential suppliers to record irises of those with sight conditions will be considered during planned biometric trials. However, in the event that it is not possible for an individual with a sight condition to record an iris biometric on enrolment after a number of attempts or an attempt with a different set of equipment, that person would be not be required to provide it. Nevertheless, they would still be able to participate in the biometric recording process, as they would still have the opportunity to provide fingerprints and a facial image.

Immigration Removal Centres: Religious Affairs

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What regulations govern religious affairs at detention and removals centres; what qualifications and training a religious affairs manager requires; and what supervision and monitoring procedures are in place.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Detention Centre Rules 2001 govern the arrangements for religious affairs at immigration removal centres, in particular Rules 20 to 25. Underpinning those rules is an operating standard on religion, details of which are available in the Library. The recruitment of managers of religious affairs is a matter for those charged with operating removal centres and, similarly, it is they who have responsibility for ensuring that proper procedures are in place.

Israel and Palestine: East Jerusalem

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish any responses they have received from the Israeli Government to the report to the European Union Ministerial Council on freedom of movement in the West Bank.

Lord Triesman: We have not received any correspondence from the Israeli Government regarding the EU east Jerusalem report. Following the EU Ministers' discussion on 12 December, the EU analysis was not endorsed and there are no plans for it to be published. Israel is fully aware of EU concerns on east Jerusalem. The EU will continue to make strong representations to the Government of Israel about the matter in the normal way. The British Ambassador in Tel Aviv most recently set these out to the Israeli Director-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 December.

Licensing Act 2003

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information on (a) crimes reported to the police; (b) ambulance call-outs; and (c) patient attendances at accident and emergency departments within the area of the Metropolitan Police they will use to assess the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on crime and disorder; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the information collected (i) leading up to the date the Act came into force; and (ii) for a period after the Act came into force.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office-led evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder will use a range of measures at both a national and local level. These include national crime surveys of victims and offenders supplemented with case studies involving five towns and cities in England. These local case studies, one of which is Croydon which is within the Metropolitan Police force area, will look at patterns of police recorded crime and disorder in relation to licensed premises and extended hours. Recorded crime data have been requested on the following crime types: violence against the person; sexual offences; and disorder and criminal damage. This work will also include, within the case study areas, surveys of local residents and interviews with the responsible authorities which have been designated under the Act as well as with local night-time economy businesses including licensees. Furthermore, the evaluation will also, where possible, draw upon data which details the number of patient attendances at accident and emergency and the number of calls for assistance from the ambulance service for each of the case study areas. The Home Office plans to publish the findings from the evaluation and once it has done so the report will be placed in the Library. In addition, the Home Office is conducting a monitoring exercise, which aims to provide a quicker and more limited assessment of the Act than the evaluation which is detailed above. Police forces have been asked to supply, on a voluntary basis, monthly returns on violent crime and criminal damage broken down by the hour of offences. If the findings are published then the report will be placed in the Library.

National Offender Management Service

Lord Ramsbotham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many staff are employed in the headquarters of (a) the National Offender Management Service; (b) the offices of the 10 referral offender managers; (c) the offices of the prison services; and (d) the offices of the prison service area managers.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: For the number of staff employed in the headquarters of (a) the National Offender Management Service (b) the office of 10 referral offender managers (c) the office of the prison services and (d) the office of the prison service area managers, please see the table below.
	
		
			 Area Staff 
			 (a) NOMS HQ 1,624 
			 (b) NOMS referral offender managers 74 
			 (c) Prison Services HO 1,336 
			 (d) PS Area Managers 629

Northern Ireland Civil Service

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any Civil Service jobs have been moved from the west of Northern Ireland to the Belfast area in each year since 2000; and, if so, which jobs; how many jobs; and why they moved.

Lord Rooker: No jobs in the Civil Service have been moved from the west of Northern Ireland to the Belfast area since 2000.

Northern Ireland Civil Service

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 November (WA 161) in regard to the net reduction of 678 Northern Ireland Civil Service staff-in-posts from 2004 to 2005, how many came about through (a) a diminution in temporary or casual employees; (b) the transfer of staff and responsibilities outside the Northern Ireland Civil Service; (c) the suppression of posts; and (d) other reasons; and what were the other reasons.

Lord Rooker: The net reduction of 678 relates to posts (i.e. staff in post plus vacancies), expressed as whole time equivalents, rather than staff in post as stated in the Question. The reduction of all 678 posts came about through the suppression of posts. None was as a result of a diminution in temporary or casual employees, the transfer of staff and responsibilities outside the Northern Ireland Civil Service, or for other reasons.

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 13 December (WA 153), what was the age of the child who was detained and questioned by officers from the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; at what times the child was questioned and for how long on each occasion; whether the child was legally represented or accompanied by an adult during questioning; and for how long the child was detained altogether; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 13 December (WA 153), whether the child who was detained and questioned was related to a serving or retired police officer; and, if so, whether any charges were subsequently made against that officer by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 13 December (WA 153), whether an apology has been extended to the child detained and questioned by the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; whether any compensation has been paid to the child; if so, how much; in respect of what; and whether any conditions were attached to the award; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 13 December (WA 153), whether the child questioned by the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland was medically examined at the beginning and at the end of his detention.

Lord Rooker: The office of Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is independent of government in the exercise of its functions. The issues raised should therefore be raised directly with the Police Ombudsman.

Brothels: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many arrests and convictions there were in the years 2001 to 2004 of people who operate brothels in Northern Ireland; and whether they will give details including sentences imposed.

Lord Rooker: Information relating specifically to arrests of people for the operation of brothels throughout Northern Ireland is not available. The following table provides details of the number of convictions for operating brothels in Northern Ireland during the period 2001 to 2003 (2003 being the most recent year for which statistics are available).
	
		Convictions for operating brothels 2001–03
		
			 Year Number of convictions Sentence imposed 
			 2001 1 Fine 
			 2002 1 - 
			 2003 0 - 
		
	
	The operation of brothels in Northern Ireland is an emerging issue and the subject of active enquiry in a number of District Command Units. For example, South Belfast DCU set up a specialist drugs and vice team in September 2005 after analysis indicated problems related to sex crimes. In that DCU, PSNI has successfully closed down 20 brothels and charged 12 persons in connection with offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Schools: Brownlow College

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the development of Brownlow College and integrated sixth form studies, in the light of planned co-operation with Lismore Comprehensive School and the Craigavon Teachers Centre; and
	Whether they have consulted the Southern Education and Library Board about the further development of Brownlow College; and, if so, with what result.

Lord Rooker: Brownlow Integrated College is a controlled integrated school and as such it is a matter for the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) to formulate and to consult as appropriate, on proposals for the development of the college.
	The SELB published a development proposal for the establishment of sixth form provision at Brownlow Integrated College on 26 May 2005.
	The proposal included an intention to provide sixth form courses in collaboration with Lismore Comprehensive College and the Upper Bann of Further and Higher Education (UBIFHE) The school proposed to utilise accommodation in the school currently occupied by Craigavon Teachers' Centre for the sixth form.
	An examination of the proposal did not convince the department that sufficient consideration and planning had been given to the issue. The college proposed to initially offer 10 academic A-level courses, which are also available in various combinations through other local post-primary and further education providers. The department has also reservations about the viability of the sixth form and the proposal failed to provide sufficient statistical evidence to support the view that numbers could be sustained. The college had been advised in detail of the reasons for the proposal being turned down.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Castlereagh Break-in

Baroness Park of Monmouth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When it is expected that charges will be brought in connection with the break-in at Castlereagh on 17 March 2002.

Lord Rooker: The Police Service of Northern Ireland has advised me that this matter is still ongoing and the release of any information in relation to this could prejudice the investigation.

Schools: Classroom Assistants

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 2 November (WA 29), what is the percentage religious breakdown of classroom assistants employed in each of the four Education and Library Boards areas and under the aegis of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.

Lord Rooker: The information requested is not readily available. Classroom assistants working in the controlled and in the maintained sectors are employed by the education and library boards (ELBs) and those working in the voluntary grammar school (VGS) and in the grant maintained integrated (GMI) sectors are employed by the individual school board of governors. The Department of Education has written to the respective employers seeking the information required and will write to the noble Lord, Lord Laird, when the information is available.

Northern Ireland: Denis Donaldson

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total cost of the police operation at Stormont involving Denis Donaldson.

Lord Rooker: To obtain an accurate breakdown of what has been a complex, multi-faceted and lengthy investigation would require careful and involved analysis by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Such an Answer could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland: Denis Donaldson

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Northern Ireland prison officers were relocated as a result of the police investigation into the activities of Denis Donaldson; and what was the total cost of these relocations and associated security measures.

Lord Rooker: This was a particularly difficult time for Prison Service staff and their families and this was recognised by the Prison Service management and government ministers. Prison officers perform a vital and valuable role on behalf of all sections of the community and their safety and security is a high priority.
	The NI Prison Service advises that a total of 51 prison officers relocated under the assisted home removal scheme at total AHR expenditure of £9,387,279. Overall expenditure on Prison Service security measures was £24.46 million.

Northern Ireland: Denis Donaldson

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Denis Donaldson was a double agent; and whether they will set up an independent inquiry into the "Stormontgate affair".

Lord Rooker: It is not government policy to comment on intelligence matters. We see no need to initiate a costly public inquiry into this affair. Let us concentrate instead on the progress that has been made in recent months. This issue must not detract from that.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development received applications for funding from the West Belfast Festival, the New Lodge Festival and the Ardoyne Festival in 2004 and 2005; when the department agreed to the funding; when it was paid in each case; and whether they will place the post-event performance documents in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: The following tables provide information in relation to 2004 and 2005 for the West Belfast, New Lodge and Ardoyne Festivals.
	
		Financial Year 2004
		
			 Name of Festival DateApplication Rec'd Date Dept agreed to funding (*) Period of payment 
			 West Belfast 08/06/2004 29/07/2004 Aug 2004-Oct 2004 
			 New Lodge 07/06/2004 29/07/2004 Aug 2004-Nov 2004 
			 Ardoyne 03/06/2004 29/07/2004 Aug 2004-May 2005 
		
	
	(*) Date Contract for Funding issued
	
		Financial Year 2005
		
			 Name of Festival Date Application Recd Date Dept agreed to funding (*) Period of payment 
			 West Belfast 22/06/2005 29/07/2005 Aug 2005-Date (**) 
			 New Lodge 30/06/2005 02/08/2005 Aug 2005-Nov 2005 
			 Ardoyne 27/06/2005 02/08/2005 Aug 2005-Dec 2005 
		
	
	(*) Date contract for funding issued
	(**) Grant has not yet been fully claimed
	All post-event performance documents will be placed in the Library of the House. It should, however, be noted that the evaluation for the West Belfast Festival has not yet been finalised. This evaluation is expected to be completed by February 2006. I will arrange for this document also to be placed in the Library of the House upon completion.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of the nationalist festivals in West Belfast, Ardoyne and New Lodge, under what heading and on what date funding was provided from the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development in the years 2004 and 2005.

Lord Rooker: Funding from the Department for Social Development was provided under the heading of, "Transitional Funding Arrangements". In 2004, a contract for funding was issued to West Belfast, Ardoyne and New Lodge Festivals, on 29 July 2004. In 2005, a contract for funding was issued to West Belfast Festival, on 29 July 2005, with contracts issuing to the Ardoyne and New Lodge Festivals on 2 August 2005.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Probation Board for Northern Ireland supplied funding to any festivals in any of the past three years; if so, which festivals were funded; when they took place; how much was given in each case; and whether they will place copies of the business cases, together with reports on the festivals, in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: The Probation Board for Northern Ireland has advised that it has provided grant aid to two festivals in the past three years:
	
		
			  
			 Ardoyne Fleadh Project February 2004 £6,000 
			 Fé-le an Phobail August 2005 £5,220 
		
	
	Each grant was made in response to an application for community development funding rather than a formal business case. Under its established procedures the board considers each application for such funding on its own merits. Reports on the festivals are matters for the organisations concerned.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Awards for All in Northern Ireland supplied funding to any festivals in any of the past three years; if so, which festivals were funded; when they took place; how much was given in each case; and whether they will place copies of the business cases, together with reports on the festivals, in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: Between April 2002 and December 2005 Awards for All has funded 131 community festival projects, valued at £503,277. A list of all the groups and projects funded, the date of the award, and the amount of the award has been placed in the Library.
	The Awards for All application process does not require a business plan. Project summaries are publicly available on the Awards for All website at www.awardsforall.org.uk/ni/awards.htm.

Urban Regeneration: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the past five years, what was the total funding provided from Making Belfast Work and the Londonderry Regeneration Initiative; to which groups and organisations; for what purpose the funding was provided; and how much in each case.

Lord Rooker: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Murders

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many immigrants have been murdered in Northern Ireland during the years 2001 to date; and how many of these murders have been shown to be racially motivated.

Lord Rooker: The Police Service of Northern Ireland does not hold information which would indicate whether a victim of crime is an immigrant to the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland: PEACE I and II Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What capital projects have been funded from PEACE I and PEACE II for prisoners and victims groups in Northern Ireland; how much funding has been made available in each case; and whether they will place the business cases for each project in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: The following tables detail funding provided to capital projects for prisoners' groups and victims' groups through the PEACE I and PEACE II Programmes.
	(a) Prisoners
	The list below includes those projects with a capital element which are either aimed specifically at prisoners or include prisoners as one of their target groups.
	
		
			 Organisation Name Project Title Total Award £ 
			 An-Eochair Ex-Prisoner Support Group An-Eochair Ex-Prisoner Support Group 29,911 
			 Aras Tar Abhaile Aras Tar Abhaile ATA Phase II 250,000 
			 Cairde Strabane Republican Ex-prisoners Group Cairde New Build Project (A) 73,750 
			 Cairde Strabane Republican Ex-prisoners Group Cairde Development Project 9,439 
			 Cumann na Meirleach Ard Mhaca Theas Supporting Infrastructure for Training/Employment Project 4,953 
			 Gae Lairn Ltd—( Bet'R' Partnership) Financial Assistance to Support 2.4a Project for Bet'R'Partnership 26,500 
			 Gae Lairn Ltd Financial Assistance to Support 2.4a Project for Gae Lairn Ltd 25,935 
			 Goitse Preparing, Learning and Sharing 5,420 
			 Iarchimi Fhearmanach Equipment to support Outreach to Republican Ex-prisoners in Fermanagh 10,000 
			 Lisburn Prisoners Support Project Pathways to Inclusion 6,000 
			 New Lodge Forum An Loiste Uir 9,291 
			 New Lodge Forum Training for Access 10,000 
			 North Belfast Prisoner's Aid North Belfast Prisoner Aid 41,712 
			 Prisoners Enterprise Project Financial Assistance to Support 2.4a Project for PEP 15,185 
			 REACT (formerly EPIC Mid Ulster) Facilitating Access to Employment 9,908 
			 REACT Northwest REACTNorthwest 10,000 
			 Tar Abhaile Tar Abhaile Training Programme 5,880 
			 Tar Anall Youth Development Unit 7,860 
			 Tar Isteach Tar Isteach Counselling, Advice & Youth Services for Republican Ex-Prisoners & Their Families 8,280 
			 Teach na Failte Teach na Failte 24,433 
			 Tra Ghearr.South/East Ex-POWs Training and Outreach Worker. 10,000 
			 Upper Springfield Development Trust Tus Nua 32,000 
		
	
	(b) Victims
	The list below includes those projects with a capital element which are either aimed specifically at victims or include victims as one of their target groups.
	
		
			 Organisation Name Project Title Total Award £ 
			 123 House (Cross Community Family Centre) 123 House—Preschool Services 11,875 
			 123 House (Cross Community Family Centre) 123 House—Outreach Women's Development Worker—Supporting Equipment 29,956 
			 The Aisling Centre Children's Play area 4,632 
			 Armagh Voluntary Welfare Group Purchase of Computer equipment, Respite Trip 6,360 
			 Ashton Community Trust Ashton Creche 9,086 
			 Ashton Community Trust The Bridge 9,664 
			 C.A.L.M.S. Coping with the changes and getting through the other side 9,371 
			 Cunamh Deis 19,532 
			 Disabled Police Officers Association Ltd. Disabled Police Officers Association 9 810 
			 F.A.C.T. Families Achieving Change Together Building Community Participation 11,096 
			 Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) Capital Costs 10,000 
			 Fellowship of Good Counsel Trust (Columba Community) Columba Community Development for the re-integration of recovering addicts and other victims 14,235 
			 FIRINNE Firinne Training 10,572 
			 ITxp Centre Tackling Trauma Through Training 8,243 
			 Lifeways Psychotherapy Centre Interactions 6,000 
			 Lisburn Prisoners Support Project Victims All 3,905 
			 Mourne Action for Survivors of Terrorism Network Kilkeel/2 9 996 
			 New Life Counselling Service Access for all 1,445 
			 New Life Counselling Service Access to Training Facilities 38,091 
			 NOVA Barnardos (NI) Traumatic Stress Management Training 4,981 
			 Relatives for Justice Regional Capacity Building Programme 6,000 
			 Royal National Institute for Deaf People Equipment Support for Rehabilitation for Deafened Victims Application 4,942 
			 S.A.V.E.R./N.A.V.E.R. Community Health And Education Project 17,000 
			 S.A.V.E.R./N.A.V.E.R. Connect. Working to connect individuals together 15,599 
			 Shankill Stress and Trauma Group Infrastructure Support for Progression 38,495 
			 Short Strand Community Forum Youth victims 8,016 
			 S.T.E.E.R. Mental Health Organisation IT Capacity Building 6,800 
			 Strabane Befriending & Counselling Association Securing and development of Koram Centre, Phase 1 68,000 
			 Strabane Befriending & Counselling Association Koram Centre, Development Needs of Victims/Survivors 20,701 
			 Sub Committee for Victims and Steering Group Sub Committee For Victims Steering Group 45,977 
			 Survivors of Trauma Survivors of Trauma Health and Training 34,034 
			 Trauma Recovery Network TRN Capital 20,617 
			 Victims and Survivors Trust (VAST) Memorial to Peace 4,897 
			 WAVE Trauma Centre WAVE Youth Capital 16,000 
			 WAVE Trauma Centre WAVE Support Services—Belfast Capital 45 963 
			 WAVE Trauma Centre WAVE Support Services—Outreach Capital 84,781 
			 WAVE Trauma Centre Youth WAVE Youth Capital 14,770 
			 West Tyrone Voice Training for Employment 15,091 
		
	
	All applications for EU funding are subject to a value-for-money assessment proportionate to the level of funding applied for, as required by Treasury guidance. It is required that applications for EU grant aid totalling over £250,000 are subject to a full Green Book economic appraisal. This applies to one project listed, Aras Tar Abhaile ATA Phase II. The noble Lord's request for the business case will be considered in line with the Freedom of Information Act. The noble Lord will be informed of the outcome of this consideration separately.

Northern Ireland: PEACE II Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What organisations have received funding from Peace 2 Extension Measure 2:1 Capital Fund Building; for what purpose; and whether they will place copies of all business cases in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: Applications for funding under Peace II Extension, Measure 2:1 Social Integration, Inclusion and Reconciliation—Reconciliation for Sustainable Peace, capital-build element are still being considered.

Rivers: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 2 November (WA 29), which rivers in Greater Belfast are designated by the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland and maintained by the Rivers Agency; and why the Connswater and Knock rivers are not so designated.

Lord Rooker: A list of the rivers in the Greater Belfast area which are designated by the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland and maintained by Rivers Agency to ensure free flow has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The Connswater and Knock Rivers are included in the list as they are also designated watercourses with designation limits as follows.
	
		
			 River Downstream Limit Upstream Limit 
			 Connswater River Downstream end of Connswater Bridge at Sydenham Bypass Confluence Loop and Knock River at Beersbridge Road 
			 Knock River Confluence with the Connswater at Beersbridge Road Upper Newtownards Road at Knock Golf Course.

Schools: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 November (WA 47), whether they will provide the evidence that the closure of small schools resulted from each school failing to provide for the best educational interests of the pupils.

Lord Rooker: Small schools encounter difficulties and the smaller the school, the more acute those difficulties can become. Difficulties arise when children have to be taught in composite classes and do not have access to opportunities for social interaction and personal development that exist in larger schools, and where there is less scope for professional teacher development.
	The Department of Education considers all the relevant information relating to a proposal to close before a decision is taken. This includes the views of the relevant Employing Authorities and Boards, in the context of the individual school and the existing provision in the immediate area. In each of these cases, enrolments were falling, the projected intakes were small and the views of the Education and Training Inspectorate were taken, which was that the educational interests of the children would be served more effectively by approving the closure proposal and educating the children in a larger school.

Stormont: Car Parking

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether parkland areas on the Stormont estate have been converted into temporary car parks in the past 12 months; whether redundant builders' compounds on the estate have been converted into car parks rather than returned to parkland; whether they will put a cap on the number of car parking places on the estate; and, if so, according to what criteria.

Lord Rooker: The answer to the noble Lords three-part Question is no, no and no.

Northern Ireland: Ulster-Scots and Irish Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 November (WA 53), whether it is their policy to promote parity of esteem between Ulster-Scots and Irish cultures.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 17 November 2005 (WA 173).

People Trafficking

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that copies of the training kit for identifying trafficked people published this year by Anti-Slavery International are available to all relevant police, customs, immigration officers and health and social workers.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We welcome the publication of the Anti-Slavery International training kit for identifying trafficked people, which includes useful information for front-line personnel. The Home Office, in consultation with non-government organisations, has already produced a toolkit aimed at front-line police, immigration officers and other agencies and professionals who may come into contact with potential victims of trafficking. It provides generic information and practical advice on identifying victims of trafficking and how to appropriately and fairly deal with them. The toolkit is intended as an additional resource to support local operations. Immigration officers throughout the UK have been made aware of the Home Office toolkit and receive regular briefings to highlight the trends in trafficking. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is conducting a review of staff training and guidance in 2006 and will consider circulating the Anti-Slavery International training kit as part of this wider work. The type and level of training on human trafficking provided to police officers is a matter for individual police forces. However we will also draw the attention of Centrex (the Central Police Training Authority), which is reviewing police training on trafficking, to the existence of the Anti-Slavery International training kit. Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are being established in all local authority areas following the requirement set out in the Children Act 2004. DfES will shortly be producing guidance that will set out that it will be the responsibility of the LSCBs to ensure that training and safeguarding and promoting welfare is provided in order to meet individual needs.

Police: Finances

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which police authorities in England are currently free of debt.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Returns from police authorities on debts and investments to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister indicate that the following police authorities were debt-free as at 31 March 2005: Durham, Essex, Kent, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey and Wiltshire.

Police: Finances

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the level of funding for each police constabulary in England and Wales, broken down on a per capita basis of population within each force area.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Funding to police authorities comes from two main sources: government grants and revenue raised through the police precept on council tax. Information on government grants to police authorities in England and Wales on a per capita basis is set out in the table. We do not distribute grant to police authorities purely on the basis of population. The police funding formula uses a range of socio-demographic factors to reasonably reflect the relative needs of each authority. Grant allocations also take into account a police authority's ability to raise revenue via the police precept.
	
		Government Grant Funding1 per head of population 2 
		
			 Force 2005–06 
			 Avon & Somerset 125.49 
			 Bedfordshire3 125.62 
			 Cambridgeshire3 118.97 
			 Cheshire 123.62 
			 Cleveland 177.98 
			 Cumbria 141.44 
			 Derbyshire 119.64 
			 Devon & Cornwall 120.96 
			 Dorset 104.65 
			 Durham 161.61 
			 Dyfed-Powys 121.54 
			 Essex3 112.77 
			 Gloucestershire 120.93 
			 Greater Manchester 179.98 
			 Gwent 147.54 
			 Hampshire3 119.88 
			 Hertfordshire3 114.00 
			 Humberside 147.74 
			 Kent3 130.45 
			 Lancashire 146.92 
			 Leicestershire 126.77 
			 Lincolnshire 108.04 
			 Merseyside 206.87 
			 Metropolitan3 300.33 
			 Norfolk 118.40 
			 Northamptonshire 117.23 
			 Northumbria 181.36 
			 North Wales 131.70 
			 North Yorkshire 110.74 
			 Nottinghamshire 141.71 
			 South Wales 156.51 
			 South Yorkshire 158.25 
			 Staffordshire 119.66 
			 Suffolk 112.80 
			 Surrey3 95.76 
			 Sussex3 120.70 
			 Thames Valley3 116.87 
			 Warwickshire 111.49 
			 West Mercia 107.12 
			 West Midlands 181.53 
			 West Yorkshire 163.55 
			 Wiltshire 112.89 
		
	
	1 Government funding includes general grant (Home Office police grant, ODPM/Welsh Assembly Government revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates). It also includes specific grants: Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Basic Command Unit funding, Community Support Officer funding (including, for 2004–05 and 2005–06, round one of the Neighbourhood Policing Fund), Airwave, DNA Expansion Programme, Counter Terrorism funding (MPS only), Street Crime Initiative, Special Priority Payments and capital grants.
	2 Source for resident population figures: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Welsh Assembly Government as used in the calculation of the police funding settlements.
	3 The Home Office also funds 75 per cent. of the cost of the London and south-east allowances for all qualifying officers. These figures are not included within the totals.

Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland: Constable Coote

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date the incident took place that resulted in the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland preferring charges against Constable Michael Coote; on what date the matter came to court; and what employment constraints were imposed on Constable Coote in the interim period; and
	On what specific duty Constable Michael Coote was deployed on the night of the incident which led to charges being preferred by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; whether firearms were discharged on that night; and, if so, how many police officers discharged their weapons; and
	In connection with the incident for which Constable Michael Coote was charged by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, how many citizens were detained; what charges were preferred against them; and how soon they were brought to court.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave today to Questions HL3122, 3123, 3125 and 3126. Cases conducted under the independent investigatory powers and statutory functions of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland should be pursued directly with her. The inquiries regarding employment and operational deployment of police officers is a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to address and should be pursued directly with the chief constable.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Employment of Minors

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is the practice for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to train and employ children under 16 years old as agents provocateurs in respect of the illegal sale of alcohol by publicans to minors; how many under 16 year-olds have been so trained; and whether advice on this practice has been sought and obtained from the Probation Service for Northern Ireland, teachers' unions or child psychologists.

Lord Rooker: No.

Royal Patriotic Fund

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 7 December (WS 72–73), why the Home Office rather than the Ministry of Defence is responsible for the Royal Patriotic Fund (Transfer of Property, Rights and Liabilities) Order 2005 (S.I. 3308/2005).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The power to make the Royal Patriotic Fund (Transfer of Property, Rights and Liabilities) Order 2005 is conferred by Section 6 of the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004. Although the principal responsibility for implementation of this Act rests with the Ministry of Defence, responsibility for the making of this order rests with the Home Office as it concerns a charity and the objective of the order is to transfer the property and functions of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation to a successor body registered under the Charities Act 1993.

South Asia Earthquake

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the three Chinook helicopters deployed to assist humanitarian operations after the Pakistan earthquake disaster were withdrawn after 28 days.

Baroness Amos: The Ministry of Defence Chinook helicopters had fulfilled their agreed 28-day deployment mission in support of humanitarian operations. These helicopters formed part of a large United Nations-led helicopter operation that played a crucial role in delivering relief supplies. The Chinooks provided an important heavy lift capacity for the period of their deployment and their work was praised by the United Nations and other humanitarian operations.
	However, at the request of the United Nations, DfID agreed to take on contracts for four Mi8 helicopters for four months as replacements for the Chinooks, as they would be more adaptable to the changing weather conditions at the time and through the winter. This formed part of a package of further support to the United Nations helicopter operation of £5.5 million. DfID has also provided support to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which includes provision of helicopters and through the Ministry of Defence funded the delivery of two Puma helicopters from Spain for use by the ICRC.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the actual expenditure for Waterways Ireland in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; how it differs from the budgets originally approved in advance and recorded in parliamentary estimates for capital projects, current maintenance and headquarters and regional offices for each of the years 2001 to 2004; and what is the forecast expenditure for 2005.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 10 November (WA 114).
	Waterways Ireland's corporate and business plan 2002–04 together with its business plans for 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 contain its approved and detailed annual budget allocation from both jurisdictions. These documents have been placed in the Library. The organisation's annual reports and audited accounts include details of the funding provided by each jurisdiction and copies for the years 2001 to 2004 are also available in the Library.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether former staff of the Northern Ireland Civil Service employed by Waterways Ireland have been informed of all opportunities for promotion and recruitment within Waterways Ireland.

Lord Rooker: Apart from the two appointments referred to at Appendix 1.4 of the joint statement issued by both sponsor departments on 4 April 2005, I am advised by the body that promotion opportunities are advertised to all staff internally and all recruitment is by open competition.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 7 December (WA 109) concerning properties owned by Waterways Ireland, when the institution will be in a suitable position to provide the information sought.

Lord Rooker: The task of registering title of property associated with the navigations has not previously been undertaken by any of Waterways Ireland's predecessors in title in the South. Waterways Ireland is to undertake a process of property registration which will take some time to complete.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With which departments the specifications for the post of Director of Marketing and Communications for Waterways Ireland were agreed; when agreement on the specifications was reached; and what were the agreed specifications.

Lord Rooker: There is nothing further I can usefully add to my Answer of 6 December (Col. WA98).

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 2 November (WA 28), whether they will take steps to change the religious balance of employees of Waterways Ireland based in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 13 December (WA 156).

World Trade Organisation: EU Proposals

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the proposals tabled for Hong Kong by Commissioner Mandelson are within the terms of the instruction given to him by the Council of Ministers.

Lord Triesman: In World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, the Commission negotiates on behalf of the EU within the terms of a mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers. The Commission tabled a revised proposal with a view to the December WTO Ministerial on 28 October. This proposal was within the bounds of the mandate set by the Council. The Council regularly reviews progress in the negotiations, most recently at a series of General Affairs and External Relations Councils held in the margins of the Ministerial. The Council has at various points re-affirmed its support for Commissioner Mandelson's approach and his aim of negotiating a successful, balanced outcome to the WTO round. The Council also approved the Ministerial Declaration agreed at Hong Kong.